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Schaefer's Foods marks centennial

Schaefer’s Foods in Nisswa kicked off its 100th year in 2014 with a remodeling project that welcomed GuidePoint Pharmacy and updated the sitdown deli area.

GuidePoint Pharmacy opened in the former sitdown deli area. Over-the-counter and other related pharmaceutical items are now located closer to the pharmacy.

The deli sitdown area with all new tables and chairs is now in the space that previously offered videos.

“We got out of the movie business after 20 years,” said Ted Schaefer III, who owns the store with his wife, Robyn. “It has been slowing down for years, but we felt it was a service we provided to our year-round and seasonal customers.”

The deli also got new cases for both hot and cold items. The customer service counter was remodeled, and the greeting card selection was moved to Aisle One.

With energy efficiency in mind, Schaefer’s changed the freezer and refrigerated case lights to LED for better light and less energy usage. Parking lot lights and building lights are also LED. The store installed new overhead lighting that uses less energy but provides the same amount of light.

Previous remodeling projects since the store opened in Nisswa in the winter of 1964-65 occurred in 1975-76, when the store expanded into more space and offered more services, and in 1993, when the store nearly doubled in size, adding the full-service bakery department and expanding the deli department with sitdown area for meals.

The store updated its decor with earth tone colors and historic photos in the spring of 2010.

“I am very proud to be the fourth generation involved at Schaefer’s Foods,” said Teddy (Ted IV) Schaefer. “One hundred years of business is an honor that not a lot of fourth generations get to be part of nowadays, and I’m indeed grateful to be doing just that.”